Category: God’s Faithfulness

  • When You’re Drowning in Sin, Call on Your Heavenly Lifeguard

    When You’re Drowning in Sin, Call on Your Heavenly Lifeguard

    Jesus is always ready to rescue. because of God's Faithfulness

    The job of a lifeguard is to watch over people and rescue them from dangerous situations, even saving lives if need be. God is the ultimate lifeguard. He never sleeps, is always on duty and responds to the faintest of cries for help.

    King David endured many trials, often of his own doing, but He understood that he could not save himself. David had to call upon the Lord.

    He said, “I love You, O Yahweh, my strength.”
    Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
    My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
    I call upon Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised,
    And I am saved from my enemies.

    The cords of death encompassed me,
    And the torrents of vileness terrified me.
    The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
    The snares of death confronted me.

    In my distress I called upon Yahweh,
    And cried to my God for help;
    He heard my voice out of His temple,
    And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
     Psalm 18:1-6

    A drowning person is unable to save themselves. They need outside assistance.

    God rescues us from our sin, knowing full well that before long, we’ll be in over our heads again and in need of rescue.

    His mercy and patience are endless. His sacrifice for us was once for all (Hebrews 10:11-18). Our sins are forgiven at the cross, but He repeatedly pulls us out of the flames.

    When we become true followers of Christ, we are covered by His imputed righteousness, but we are far from perfect. In the journey to be made holy, fully set apart for Christ (being sanctified), there are many missteps and problems.

    Yet, when we turn to Him and call out, He comes to our rescue again and again. There will still be earthly consequences for our sins, but we are held fast by what Christ has done. No one can snatch us out of His hands.

    I find that very comforting. I want to be like Jesus more than anything else, but I stumble and fall far too often. I know that when I call, He will answer. My heavenly lifeguard is always there. That’s great news because I need Him every moment of every day. 

    Sometimes, I wonder how long He will stay patient with me. Then I remember His character and promises. God is incapable of failing to keep His promises. It is part of His very nature.

    Do you need rescue? Call on Him today! Good news for the drowning

    Kevin 


    SUMMARY

    Like a drowning person unable to save themselves, we are helpless against sin without divine rescue — and God, our ultimate lifeguard, is always on duty. Drawing from Psalm 18 and the life of King David, this devotional reminds us that no matter how often we stumble, God answers every cry for help.

    TAKEAWAY

    God is the ultimate lifeguard — never sleeping, always on duty, responding to the faintest cry for help 

    Like David, we cannot save ourselves from sin; we must call upon the Lord 

    His mercy is endless; though earthly consequences remain, no one can snatch us from His hands

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  • God’s Promises

    the BIg Book of God's Promises

    We have all made promises, some we have kept and others we have broken, for reasons, good, bad, and unknown. The Lord made many promises throughout the Scriptures, and God’s promises are never broken.

    We all know people whose promises are not dependable. Their word is less than trustworthy, and you can almost count on them not keeping it. The Scriptures are full of verses affirming the trustworthiness of God’s Promises. Here are a few: Hebrews 10:23, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Titus 1:2, Joshua 21:45.

    Numerous places in the Old Testament God promised to pour out his Holy Spirit:

    And it will be afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; Your old men will dream dreams; Your young men will see visions. Even on the male slaves and female slaves I will in those days pour out My Spirit. Joel 2:28-29

    Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to do Ezekiel 36:26–27

    That particular promise was made in many places and affirmed by Jesus. We see it fulfilled in Acts.

    And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

    That fulfillment of God’s Promise is critical for believers today. Every one of us has the Holy Spirit.

    He intercedes for us. He empowers us. He illuminates Scripture for us.

    The Holy Spirit seals us in our salvation with a seal that no one and nothing can break. Once He seals us, we belong forever to the Lord. He gifts and equips us for life and ministry.

    God promised to pour out His Helper, the Spirit, and He has done just that for our benefit and His glory. 

    My friends that is worth celebrating.

    Praise God for His faithfulness.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

  • What’s Your Story? Share your testimony!

    What’s Your Story? Share your testimony!

    Blackboard with text "What is your story?"

    What’s your story?  We all have one. In Christian circles we call it your testimony.

    The Bible is a book made up of stories. They are all true, but stories of God and how he worked in His people. They tell of His steadfast love, incredible patience, and endless mercies. They tell what He requires of us and the consequences for our wrongdoing. His stories tell of His redemptive plan for us.

    We are called to share our stories. It’s urged from many places in the Bible.

    “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:3

    “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9  

    “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:2

    “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” Romans 10:14

    The problem is that we often think about our testimonies as being who we were before Jesus and the moment that changed. That’s part of the story, but it’s ongoing. Our story grows non stop because God is relentless in His love and mercy and his patience knows no bounds.

    It’s time to dig out your five, ten, twenty, or more-year-old testimony and blow the dust off it. What did you see God doing of late?

    That answered prayer. That unexpected kindness. The job offer or check that materialized out of the blue at just the right time. The marriage that was healed. Your peace over a decision. A friend’s life changed.

    That’s all part of your story, your testimony. Those are things worth sharing.

    When we do, it brings glory to God and encourages others. Only you can tell your story. Don’t keep it hidden.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

  • The True Miracle Cure – The Gospel

    The True Miracle Cure – The Gospel

    An AI-generated photo-realistic image of a patent medicine bottle, "Uncle John's Miracle Cure."

    I’ve been down with a bit of a bug since late last week. Mot enough to be really sick, just enough to feel tired, miserable, and sorry for myself. I’ve mostly isolated myself to keep from sharing it with others. I’m sure it will run its course in a few days. In the meantime, I’ll stay housebound. Now, the funny thing about being under the weather is that immediately, well-intentioned and compassionate people have the cure.  We all know that one miracle cure.

    Use these essential oils. Take this herb. Smoke this wildflower. Try the newest wonder drug. Kiss a toad whose mother was conceived under an oak tree during a full moon. Some of these wonder cures may even work, in some circumstances, for some people., and I always appreciate the caring behind the suggestion.

    I’m reminded of the words of Charles Dudley Warner from “My Summer in a Garden.” “This soothing syrup is said to contain no opium or anything that could possibly injure the tenderest infant. It is recommended for children of all ages. It is sure death to worms. It allays irritation, assists digestion, and cures wind colic. It regulates the function and promotes natural, healthy sleep. It is pleasant to take and is perfectly harmless. It is good for everything, and it does nothing, – and is good for that too.”

    Sometimes we treat Jesus as the miracle cure all. Yes, all things are possible with Christ and prayer, but that doesn’t mean we always get what we want, when we want it.  Sometimes His plan includes some suffering, persecution, and trials. Please note I don’t consider the bug to be either suffering or a true trial, even if it’s inconvenient.

    To paraphrase an old thought, God is not committed to your immediate comfort, but to your eternal conformity to Christ — and that conformity is your truest happiness. It isn’t that He doesn’t want us to be “happy” or “healthy,” it’s just that His benchmarks are much higher than ours. He can and does heal. He can alleviate every form of suffering. Sometimes that’s not what is best for us.

    What is it that God desires? We are set apart for Christ, to become like Him.

    “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29

    And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

    He wants us to be like Jesus. What an incredible thought. We will never be God but we can be Jesus-like in mind, heart, and character. Now that makes me happy despite feeling sorry for myself over this bug. He is our literal miracle cure.

    Hold fast, my dear friends. Everything you are going through has a purpose and God will complete His work in you.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

  • Murder – death of Jesus for our sake

    Murder – death of Jesus for our sake

    four crows on a tree branch

    Today, I saw a murder of crows in the tree. In case you don’t know, a murder is the formal name for a gathering of crows.

    Seeing the crows brought murder to mind. I started to think about all the murder mysteries I have watched and read over the years. They all had something in common, besides the body. In all of them, as far as I can remember, the victim was unable to prevent his own murder.

    There is one murder, however, that I know of, where the victim willingly submitted to being murdered for a greater cause. I’m Speaking of course, of the murder of Jesus, planned by the Jewish leaders, and carried out by the Roman rulers.

    The Jewish leaders perceived Jesus as a threat, and when they could not discredit him, they planned to kill him. They used Pontius Pilate to have him crucified, a most ignominious death.

    Let’s set the scene, before Jesus was taken to Pilate, one of his disciples betrays him and shows up at the Garden of Gethsemane with troops to arrest him

    Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Matthew 26:50-56 ESV

    Jesus willingly goes with them and submits to being convicted in a kangaroo court on completely fabricated charges. He is mocked, rejected, tortured, and eventually killed on the cross.

    Why would the God of the universe permit himself such indignities? Because he loves us. He humbled himself, set aside his rights, and came to earth to die.

    “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 ESV

    If that thought doesn’t amaze you, you need to stop and think about what he has done for you.

    Praise God for all his mercies.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

  • For the Birds – God’s provision

    For the Birds – God’s provision

    male white-crowned sparrow

    Our yard is aflutter with birds. The rear of the property is fenced, keeping out most predators. The seed feeders and hummingbird feeders (in season) stay busy with various birds. The trees and brush provide plenty of nesting sites.

    We see chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, nuthatches, robins, Northern Flickers,  sapsuckers, doves, half a dozen species of sparrow, varied thrushes, common redpolls, and many more species regularly. There are also many LBJ’s (little brown jobs, small birds that I don’t get a close enough look at to identify). 

    We can watch bald eagles, hawks, ravens, and crows soar above us.  Geese and ducks often fly noisily overhead. The other day a flock of sandhill cranes flew overhead whooping away as they traveled. At dawn and dusk we are serenaded by a wide range of song birds.

    We often sit in the yard and watch and listen. Many birds are so accustomed to us that they will come within a couple of feet of us. We are not seen as a threat unless we suddenly move in their direction.

    A passage of Scripture often comes to mind as I watch them. 

    “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

    Appropriate words for the times we are in. 

    Our security nets have eroded. The political world is in chaos, and our economies are in shambles. There are wars, rumors of wars, plagues, and natural disasters on what seems an unprecedented level.

    Yet the birds go about their daily lives, completely unaware of what makes us fearful. God looks after them and will watch over us as well. Things might be difficult for a season, but He has not abandoned us, nor will He.

    The LORD  is our source, our strength, our comfort, and He is our peace. We can rest in Him whether things get better or worse. No matter what the world throws at us, we can withstand it joyfully in Him.

    When it gets too much, take a minute to watch and listen to the birds and look to the Savior. If you live where birds are scarce, go online and watch some videos of them.

    Until next time, consider the birds and trust in Jesus.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin